Exclusive: Former coach Mike Singletary says he’ll ‘always be indebted’ to the San Francisco 49ers

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49ers coach Mike Singletary on the sidelines in the first quarter at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. on Saturday, August 28, 2010. The San Francisco 49ers played the Oakland Raiders in preseason play. (Jim Gensheimer/Mercury News)

SANTA CLARA — Former 49ers coach Mike Singletary said Monday he’ll bring “a lot of great feelings” when he makes his first return to Candlestick Park on Friday for an exhibition-season opener.

“No. 1, I’ll always be indebted to the 49ers,” Singletary, a second-year assistant with the Minnesota Vikings, told the Bay Area News Group in an exclusive phone interview. This was his first extended interview about the 49ers since a month after his 2010 dismissal.

“They gave me an opportunity when they could have chosen many others in their organization. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to get a first-hand look at an organization that really wants to win.”

Upon replacing Mike Nolan during the 2008 season, Singletary went 18-22 in his 49ers tenure, including a 5-10 mark before he got fired with one game remaining in the 2010 season.

“I’ve learned a lot in the past year and a half, and a lot goes into the progress and process of becoming the best coach ever,” Singletary said.

Yes, Singletary remains intent on football’s ultimate coach. In the meantime, he’s trying to best serve as the Vikings’ linebacker coach and assistant head coach under Leslie Frazier.

Frazier and Singletary were teammates on the Chicago Bears from 1981-86. Another former Bears teammate of Singletary’s: Jim Harbaugh, who took over as the 49ers coach last year and promptly unleashed a 13-3 regular season before a NFC Championship game berth.

“I don’t know much about his coaching style,” Singletary said of Harbaugh. “I know he’s a professional and a hardworking guy.”

Singletary does know much about the squad Harbaugh inherited, however.

“I’m very proud of the team and of some of the guys that stepped up,” Singletary added. “I’m happy for them.”

That goes for Vernon Davis. One everlasting image of Singletary’s 49ers tenure featured him sending Davis off the field during a game against the Seattle Seahawks — Singletary’s debut game on Oct. 26, 2008. Davis caught the game-winning touchdown pass in last season’s playoff opener against the New Orleans Saints.

“It was big,” Singletary said. “He continues to grow. He and Pat (Willis, the 49ers’ star linebacker) still haven’t scratched their potential yet, and it’s scary.”

So what made the difference between Singletary’s sad swan song and Harbaugh’s magnificent debut?

“When you have a team with that talent level and that confidence — that was the biggest thing, they gained confidence. And they stayed healthy and went well,” Singletary responded.

“Now it’s a matter of leadership stepping up and taking it to the next level.”

Safety Dashon Goldson is looking forward to Friday’s pseudo-reunion.

“He was one of the guys that gave me my start. He saw something in me,” Goldson said. “He’s always been a good coach. … I’m glad he’s still in the league.”

Singletary and the Vikings will play a role in the 49ers’ plans, aside from the immediate encounter of Friday’s exhibition. The 49ers will visit the Vikings on Sept. 23.

Singletary hasn’t abandoned his fondness for the 49ers, or the York family, with whom he said he hasn’t had any contact since his termination.

“I understand it’s a business. You’ve got to move on full go on where you’re going,” Singletary said. “The Yorks know how I feel. I’m very thankful for everything they’ve done for me and my family.

“For me, the 49ers will always have a warm spot in my heart and I’ll always be thankful for them in my development.”

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